On Sunday, May 26, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library will be temporarily closed to both members and the general public as we host a private event. We will resume regular hours on Tuesday, May 28, and we look forward to welcoming you back then. Thank you for your understanding and continued support! Plan Your Visit »
November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month and we’re highlighting a unique object in our collection from an indigenous maker. A Native American carver of the Yup’ik (or Cup’ik) culture created this small, lidded box and the visual evidence inside indicates it served its owner for a long period of time. Animal form boxes (“yaassiik”) had many possible uses, including holding harpoon heads and fishing tools, mineral pigments, arrow points, mask parts, and other small items. The maker sculpted a transformative shape, a seal with the concave cheeks of a fish head, with flippers carved in low relief on either side and vertical tail flukes carved in the round.
The animal’s facial features are accented with inlayed elements, including horn and the ivory teeth of a small mammal in the open mouth. The conforming, curved lid rests on the opening of the hollowed-out interior cavity forming the box. It may have once been fastened by a sinew or tie. A set of three short lines carved on the top of the lid near one end is possibly a symbol used by the box’s owner’s. The later English inscription on the underside was likely added by a Euro-American collector or antiques dealer.
Box (Animal) Yup’ik or Cup’ik Artist (Maker) Alaska, United States, North America; 1850-1900 Wood; Ivory (tooth); Bone; Horn; Paint Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont 1965.1840 A, B
WINTERTHUR, DE (November 1, 2023) – Yuletide at Winterthur brings the wonder and delight of the season to life from November 18, 2023, to January 7, 2024. Prepare to be captivated by a spellbinding celebration of American elegance and holiday spirit, infused with the style of the current exhibition, Ann Lowe: American Couturier.
Yuletide and the Ann Lowe exhibition are included with admission.
Fashion Meets Tradition
Yuletide at Winterthur showcases the seamless blend of fashion and history with custom designs by Delaware-based couturiers Shawn Baron Pinckney and Asata Maisé Beeks, paying homage to the design sensibilities of Winterthur founder Henry Francis du Pont and iconic fashion designer Ann Lowe. On December 6, from 6 pm‒7:30 pm, guests will be able to take a tour of the mansion and then chat with Pinckney and Beeks in the Galleries Reception Area or the Lowe exhibition afterward for “Meet the Artists” night.
Delaware-based couturier Shawn Baron Pinckney is shown beside one of his Ann Lowe-inspired dresses, as he designs it for Yuletide at Winterthur.
The mansion will be adorned in all its holiday finery, featuring our signature attractions including the show-stopping Dried-Flower Tree, artistic Christmas trees inspired by Ann Lowe gowns, and a spectacular table set for Christmas dinner. This year’s Yuletide Tour will evoke the splendor and design influence of florals in fashion.
Decorated trees, evoking both the magic of the season and the designs from the Ann Lowe: American Couturier exhibition, will be on display during Yuletide.
Key Features and Activities
Exquisite Exhibits: Marvel at Ann Lowe’s legacy through her timeless creations and explore specially designed trees inspired by her designs, including an 8-foot-tall dress made of flowers at the Galleries entrance, designed by the fashion instructor who recreated Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress for the Lowe exhibition.
Enchanting Decor: Wander through Winterthur’s grounds illuminated with lit trees, and tour the house, where breathtaking decorations evoke the magic of the season.
Special Events: Join us for enchanting events, including a one-man captivating rendition of “A Christmas Carol” by the great-great-grandson of literary master Charles Dickens, the OperaDelaware Holiday Candlelight Performance, Holiday Joy by the Wilmington Ballet, and Brunch with Santa.
Family Fun: Delight in family-friendly activities, including a gingerbread recreation of Enchanted Woods, our dollhouse, and a craft area, all season long, plus a toy train display from December 22 to January 2.
Join us for “Twelve Days of Christmas,” a festive toy train display for your child and “inner child.” Open December 22 to January 2.
During Yuletide, Winterthur is open seven days a week with extended hours on Wednesday evenings. Winterthur is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online at Winterthur.org.
The Museum Store is open daily for holiday shopping, featuring unique home décor, gifts, jewelry, and more that celebrate Winterthur’s beauty, indoors and out.
The media is invited to download photos and a file on photo captions at this link.
Beyond the Holidays
Winterthur offers a year-round destination for art and culture enthusiasts and scholars. Explore the museum’s unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 American decorative arts objects displayed in the magnificent 175-room house. The 1,000 acres of protected meadows, woodlands, ponds, and waterways provide stunning views throughout the year. Winterthur is also home to a vibrant array of programs, including lectures, concerts, and live performances, making it a hub for the study of American art and culture.
ABOUT WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY
Winterthur—known worldwide for its preeminent collection of American decorative arts, naturalistic garden, and research library for the study of American art and material culture— offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year.
Winterthur is located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware, and five miles south of U.S. Route 1. Winterthur is committed to accessible programming for all. For information, including special services, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org.
This exhibition explores the materials and processes of Asian and Chinese export lacquer, the harmful effects of age on this fragile material, and the groundbreaking study and work in Winterthur Museum’s conservation laboratory to restore Chinese export lacquer in the museum collection.
WINTERTHUR, DE (October 23, 2023) – One of the nation’s most acclaimed shows of antiques, art, and design, the Delaware Antiques Show, returns to the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington from November 10 to November 12. The show features more than 60 of the country’s most distinguished dealers in American antiques, furniture, paintings, rugs, porcelain, silver, jewelry, and other decorative arts.
From the newest collector to the most knowledgeable connoisseur, there is something for everyone. Tickets include lectures, book signings, and admission to the show and to Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library on the days of the Show.
Highlights include a keynote lecture entitled The New Antiquarians and the Future of Connoisseurship by art historian, designer, and author Michael Diaz-Griffith on Saturday, November 11 at 10:00 am, followed by a book signing. The New Antiquarians: At Home with Young Collectors is his first book. The book features young antiques connoisseurs whose interiors exemplify unorthodox approaches to living with objects that reflect life and history.
Diaz-Griffith is executive director of the Design Leadership Network. Prior to joining the DLN, he served as executive director of Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation and as associate executive director of The Winter Show, America’s most prestigious and longest-running art and antiques fair.
Young Scholars lectures, presented by students in the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in American Material Culture and sponsored by The Decorative Arts Trust, will take place Saturday, November 11, at 3:00 pm. Becca Lo Presti will deliver her lecture The Last Tall Clock in America? A Winterthur Tall Clock and Time Telling in Nineteenth-Century America.
Taylor Rossini, will speak about Empire on a Plate: Imperial Rivalry and Cartographic Knowledge in Overton’s Trading Part of the West Indies (1741).
The Sunday Lecture entitled A Storied Past: Collections of Historic Odessa will be delivered on November 12 at 2:00 pm by Philip D. Zimmerman. Author of A Storied Past: Collections of Historic Odessa (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023), Zimmerman will present this eponymous lecture about the recent and ongoing research and interpretations of the furnishings and other decorative arts at Historic Odessa in southern New Castle County, Delaware. Historic Odessa has beautifully restored 18th and 19th-century houses and an outstanding collection of furnishings and fine and decorative arts. Many pieces of original family furniture were made by prominent Delaware cabinetmakers of the 18th century. The collections include major works of regional paintings, prints, textiles, silver, pewter, and other metals.
Zimmerman will discuss new findings and interpretations as well as the interlocking histories of many of the objects in this remarkable collection. A museum and decorative arts consultant based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Zimmerman is a prolific author, teacher, and lecturer and author of numerous books, essays, and articles in books and periodicals such as American Furniture and The Magazine Antiques. He holds a doctorate in American and New England Studies from Boston University and a master’s degree from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture / University of Delaware. Book signing to follow the lecture.
Tickets are valid for each day of the show and include admission to Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library on show days. To purchase tickets, visit Winterthur.org/DAS or call 800.448.3883. For more information, please email das@winterthur.org.
The Delaware Antiques Show benefits educational programming at Winterthur.
The 60th Annual Delaware Antiques Show
Opening Night Party—Thursday, November 9, 5:00–9:00 pm
Celebrate the opening of the show with cocktails and exclusive early shopping.
Show Hours
Friday, November 10,11:00 am–6:00 pm
Saturday, November 11,11:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday, November 12,11:00 am–5:00 pm
General Admission
$25 per person, $20 for Winterthur Members. Children under 12 free. Tickets valid for all three days of the show and for admission to Winterthur on show days.
The Chase Center on the Riverfront is located at 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, Delaware, less than one hour south of Philadelphia, midway between New York City and Washington, D.C.
For additional information and updates about this year’s Delaware Antiques Show, please email das@winterthur.org, visit winterthur.org/DAS, or call 800.448.3883.
The Delaware Antiques Show is presented by Wilmington Trust, a Member of the M&T Family.
ABOUT WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY
Winterthur—known worldwide for its preeminent collection of American decorative arts, naturalistic garden, and research library for the study of American art and material culture— offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year.
Winterthur is located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware, and five miles south of U.S. Route 1. Winterthur is committed to accessible programming for all. For information, including special services, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org.
Winterthur is enchanting in every season…and truly magnificent in autumn.
A favorite vista of Henry Francis DuPont … ”keep this view open forever.”
Photographers feel energized to get outside to photograph nature as the weather gets cooler. Whether your creative inspiration comes from grand vistas, a small group of trees, or an intimate macro, Winterthur is a fantastic way to savor the colors and textures of autumn.
“Peak fall color” isn’t just a day or two—autumn is a continuum.
Fall color slowly develops over a month or more, with photographic opportunities all along. Different species and microclimates develop on different schedules, and you can always find something beautiful to photograph. This reduces the urgency to chase “peak” color; there isn’t a definitive “perfect peak” time to visit.
Identical grove of trees photographed six days apart; in less than a week, the mixed greens and golds developed into glowing orange.
Enjoy the subtle beauty of early or late seasonal color. Temperature and precipitation can vary exact timing, but color generally starts in mid October and runs through mid November.
Early autumn brings isolated color on individual trees, and the surrounding green makes the colors pop.
Revisit and photograph your favorite locations as the color develops.
There can be significant color transition in just a few weeks. Once cooler nighttime temperatures set in, color develops rapidly.
These three images were photographed approximately five days apart and exhibit dramatic color development. Notice that by the time the Japanese Threadleaf Maple was fully orange, surrounding trees were showing some leaf drop. So, would you call the second image “peak” color? Or the third image?
There isn’t a single “most favorable weather or time of day” to visit.
Go beyond the classically pretty days of blue skies and puffy clouds.
Golden Hour gives warm soft light for approximately an hour at either end of the day; autumn leaves are beautiful when lit by low angle light.
Overcast skies are not particularly attractive but the diffused light is wonderful for photography. Eliminate white skies from your composition and fill the frame with your subject. Or shoot macros.
Stormy, dark-gray skies give fantastic contrast with autumn leaves.
Rain adds great texture to macro photography. Rain can add interest to a landscape shot; use a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion of falling raindrops.
Fog is wonderfully moody and can add to the perception of landscape depth.
Emotional connection is important.
Engage with the landscape and come away with something meaningful and authentic.
Photographed while lying on the ground and looking up into the canopy of the Japanese Maple.
Photography is about the experience as much as the result.
Be open to serendipity and enjoy the creative experience of being outdoors.
Autumn is a perfect time to become a Member.
Membership provides garden access from dawn to dusk, a valuable benefit for photographers.
As autumn settles in, we invite you to explore the grounds, take photographs, and tag us at @WinterthurMuse.
Eileen Tercha is a Winterthur Volunteer Photographer and nature photographer based in Chester County, PA. View more of Eileen’s work @EileenTercha on Instagram.
Thousands of hours of work have been reverently spent preparing Winterthur’s new exhibition, Ann Lowe: American Couturier.
The show celebrates the largely unsung achievements of a fashion designer who worked mostly in anonymity—largely because she was black—among high society for decades. One of the highlights of her career was creating the wedding gown that Jacqueline Bouvier wore when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. The dress had to be recreated in exquisite detail for the Lowe exhibition because the original gown is too fragile to display.
But each of the unique dresses in the exhibition has its own marvelous details.
One such detail is the ostrich feathers that adorn a light salmon dress from the collection of Sharman Stoddard Peddy. Lowe made the dress for Madeleine Couture in New York in 1964.
The Lowe dress with ostrich feathers, second from right, as it appears in the Ann Lowe: American Couturier exhibition.
Unfortunately, though not unexpectedly, the original feathers on the gown had become fragile and flattened from both storage and time. In conversation with the lender, it was decided that new feathers would better represent the original intention for the dress design.
Someone had to undertake the painstaking process of recreating the authenticity of the original feathers, both in appearance and hue.
That job fell to Andrea Goldstein, a post-graduate textile conservation fellow working in the textile conservation lab at Winterthur.
As she worked on this process over the summer, she commented, “We really want to do justice to the nature of the dress as Lowe intended.”
Andrea Goldstein, left, post-graduate textile conservation fellow, talks about the ostrich feathers she recreated for Ann Lowe: American Couturier as Heather Hansen, right, textile conservation assistant, presents an archival photo of the original dress printed in the new exhibition catalog.
Goldstein’s first attempt at dyeing new feathers with acid dyes resulted in a shade of pink that was too dark and too red. With each following attempt, she subjected the feathers to different modifications to the dye recipe for varying lengths of time.
“I’ve been trying a few different color recipes,” Goldstein said.
Finally, after countless hours of dyeing feathers, spraying them with “conservation hairspray,” and curling them, with the assistance of volunteer Gail Bush, she succeeded.
In September as the exhibition opened, a film crew from the Costume Society of America was visiting the exhibition to tell Lowe’s story when they paused in front of the dress during a live webinar.
Kim Collison, curator of exhibitions, noted to the audience: “A real kudos to our conservation labs for the work that they did to recreate this dress.”
“The feathers,” he said, “for being brand new, they certainly look ‘of the period.’ I think they did a great job of maintaining the integrity of a dress many decades old. It doesn’t pop out to you like, ‘Oh that’s been replaced.’”
Lowe’s dresses were one-of-a-kind.
For instance, a concert dress she created in the late 1960s had a bow at the rear of the dress off to one side so that the pianist could comfortably sit on a piano bench, according to Kate Sahmel, textile conservator and head of the textile conservation lab.
Also, many of Lowe’s dresses have low-cut backs, Sahmel observed.
“Lowe said she wanted a dance partner’s fingers to touch the woman’s skin instead of fabric so that dirt and oil wouldn’t transfer to the dress,” Sahmel said.
Lowe worked hard to satisfy her clients, no matter the level of detail.
That level of detail shines in the exhibition thanks to all those like Goldstein who worked on the show.
The 40 dresses will be on display at Winterthur until January 7, 2024.
Winterthur is many things. On paper it’s a museum, garden, and library, encompassing 60 acres of world-class naturalistic gardens on 1,000 acres of land. Over 100 buildings sit on this estate, one of which being a 175 room, 9 story historic home. Once home to an operating country estate and dairy business, Winterthur is now an independent research library, and one of the most prominent collections of American decorative arts in the world. However, Winterthur has many more stories to tell than just a staid series of facts. In this podcast series, we’re going to share some truly fascinating untold stories of the people and places of Winterthur.
For our first installment, in the spirit of the season, we feature a few ghost stories told by employees of Winterthur.
WINTERTHUR, DE (October 9, 2023) – Applications are being accepted through October 31 for participation in Winterthur Institute, a unique opportunity to nurture a passion for decorative arts made or used in America between 1640 and 1860.
Winterthur Institute is intended for collectors, appraisers, professionals who care for collections, students, and connoisseurs of decorative arts.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library invites applicants to this two-week immersive experience (April 7–19, 2024) that includes lectures, hands-on workshops, research opportunities, and access to the specialists, gardens, and historic architecture of Winterthur.
Held each weekday from 9 am to 5 pm, the day will begin with presentations by guest speakers and Winterthur experts, followed by guided, small-group study in the rooms of Henry Francis du Pont’s former 175-room home, the museum conservation lab, library, or classrooms.
The weekend in the middle of the session will include excursions to The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and the annual celebration of Daffodil Day in Winterthur’s heirloom bulb garden.
Participants will be part of a select learning cohort that engages in the examination of Winterthur’s expansive objects collection, with contextualization in the history of American decorative arts, materiality, and techniques of museum stewardship. Participants will also have badged access to the library and archives to complete an optional research project.
Curated learning resources, reading lists, and the Certificate of Completion of Winterthur Institute will be available to all participants.
Upon completion of Winterthur Institute, participants will have gained:
historical knowledge of the decorative arts, as well as techniques of cultural analysis, which define the relationship of an object to its time.
competencies in object handling and preservation best practices that benefit collections-care skill sets.
an understanding of “sense of place” while studying collections within the former du Pont historic home and estate.
70 hours of professional development in key skills and knowledge for cultural heritage study.
Important dates:
October 31: Application deadline
December 1: Applicants notified of selection
April 7: Orientation and welcome dinner
April 19: Farewell lunch
On hiatus since 2019, Winterthur Institute is being relaunched with support from The Decorative Arts Trust, the International Society of Appraisers Education Foundation, Learning Times LLC, and Winterthur Institute alumni.
Students learn during hands-on lessons at Winterthur Institute.
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ABOUT WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY
Winterthur—known worldwide for its preeminent collection of American decorative arts, naturalistic garden, and research library for the study of American art and material culture—offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year. Admission includes an introductory house tour, exhibitions, a narrated tram ride (weather and space permitting), and the Winterthur Garden.
Winterthur is located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware, and five miles south of U.S. Route 1. Winterthur is committed to accessible programming for all. For information, including special services, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org.
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”
Emily Brontë
This sentiment by Emily Brontë perfectly expresses our fascination with fall, surely among the best times to visit Winterthur. Along with the beautiful colors in the garden, equally blissful are the dresses in our special exhibition featuring fashion designer Ann Lowe. Don’t miss the exciting slate of events and programs celebrating the life and work of this American icon.
Fall is also a time for family fun, and our expanded offerings will have all ages enjoying nature and history both indoors and outside. From the Touch-It Room and Tram & Treat to drive-in movies and Discover Winterthur (with free admission all day!), there’s something for everyone this season.
As always, we’re excited to welcome you to experience the beauty and hospitality of this great American country estate.
WINTERTHUR, DE (September 20, 2023) – Tour the museum, see the new exhibition Ann Lowe: American Couturier about the pioneering Black fashion designer, play in Enchanted Woods, or take a hayride— all with no admission fee on September 30 at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.
With the assistance of community partners, Winterthur welcomes everyone to “Discover Winterthur.” Children’s activities, live performances, beekeeping demonstrations, and more will add to the day’s festivities on the nearly 1,000-acre former estate of Henry Francis du Pont.
Discover Winterthur will take place on Saturday, September 30, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. A sensory-friendly hour for those who wish to explore independently at their own pace is available 9:00–10:00 am. During this hour, guests can expect reduced crowds and noise, quiet spaces for respite, and on-hand support from skilled and friendly volunteers.
Guests may:
tour a portion of the 175-room house where the du Pont family lived.
take a narrated tram tour of the garden.
let their children romp through Enchanted Woods children’s garden.
enjoy a guided garden walk.
stroll through two floors of galleries, including the largest-ever exhibition of the work of Ann Lowe, an undersung American couturier who was denied the prominence that was given to other designers of her time, such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel.
register for New Castle County library cards (Delaware residents).
watch a performance by the Wilmington Ballet and I AM Art N Motion.
receive new and gently used books for children up to age 18.
participate in many more activities for children.
All activities are first come, first served. Guests can also bring a picnic to enjoy in the garden or purchase food at various locations around Winterthur.
Partner organizations include Books, Balls and Blocks; Brandywine Hundred Library; Delaware Museum of Nature and Science; Food Bank of Delaware; Forgotten Cats; I AM Art N Motion; J. Lewis Crozer Library; New Directions Early Head Start; Read Aloud Delaware; and Wilmington Ballet.
Registration for Discover Winterthur is recommended but not required. Find more information at winterthur.org.
Discover Winterthur is presented by Wilmington Trust, a Member of the M&T Family.
